Human Performance People Development, Safeguarding & Governance

...developing skills since 2002

Performance Appraisal Techniques

Level 3 Professional Award Prospectus www.pdsg.uk

Welcome to the Level 3 Professional Award in Performance Appraisal Techniques... ...a practical workshop from Human Performance which has been written to substantially meet the relevant knowledge and understanding requirements of the Skills CFA National Occupational Standards (NOS) from the Management & Leadership suite of NOS. The Level 3 Professional Award in Performance Appraisal Techniques will lead to candidates achieving a Level 3 Continual Professional Development (CPD) certificate.

National Occupational Standards Covered Unit CFA M&L DB4 - Management & Leadership Manage people’s performance at work

Target Audience

This Level 3 Professional Award in Performance Appraisal Techniques has been designed for all line managers with responsibility for conducting performance and development reviews. This workshop will also be of benefit to staff members who are being developed for line management responsibility.

No previous qualifications are required to gain access on to this workshop - just a desire to learn effective techniques for performing appraisals and enhance career development. A multiple choice paper has to be completed at the close of the course so a good standard of reading and writing is essential.

Course Overview

This Level 3 Professional Award in Performance Appraisal Techniques is a highly participative and practical workshop that will enable all candidates to develop their skills towards the NOS detailed above. Group work, discussion, practical activities and observation are all used to maximise the candidate’s skills and knowledge retention.

Role plays are utilised at the end of the workshop to challenge and test the candidate’s knowledge and understanding of the principles covered on the course. All candidates receive a detailed workshop manual and a back to work action plan designed to encourage use of the new knowledge and to assist in developing competence.

Course Structure

This Level 3 Professional Award in Performance Appraisal Techniques comprises one unit entitled ‘Developing Appraisal Techniques’, made up of 13 guided learning hours delivered across 2 x 8 hour sessions. It is mandatory that candidates attend and complete all sessions, as well as pass a multiple choice exam paper, in order to achieve the award. The exam paper consists of 30 questions and is graded as follows: Pass 15-20 marks; Merit 21-25 marks; Distinction 26+ marks.

Course Learning Outcomes Learning Outcome 1: Understand the benefits of an effective appraisal system

Learning Outcome 2: Understand the challenges involved in planning for appraisals

Learning Outcome 3: Understand the skills and techniques which contribute to a successful appraisal discussion

Course Aims

This Level 3 Professional Award in Performance Appraisal Techniques aims to increase a candidate’s knowledge and understanding of the principles of performance and development reviews and so enable them to confidently and professionally carry out their duties using their own organisation’s documentation.

The appraisal discussion is an excellent opportunity for employer and employee to discuss current performance, address any issues and focus on targets and development opportunities for the coming year. Organisations that constructively utilise the appraisal interview see an increase in employee performance and achievement of business objectives.

Course Objectives

Candidates will be introduced to the concept of an appraisal and the different purposes appraisals serve to organisations. They will be given a detailed overview, with hard copy examples, of how a high quality appraisal system should be structured.

Next, candidates will discover the many benefits of conducting appraisals for the employee, line manager and company as well as being introduced to six different interview styles and learning when - and when not - to use them in the appraisal discussion. Candidates will also learn about the rights and responsibilities of the employee and line manager during the appraisal process.

The workshop will cover the qualities that make for a good appraiser and the areas that have to be considered in the line manager’s preparation for the interview as well as how to structure the meeting and discussion. Candidates will be made aware of the four types of bias and be given practical advice on avoiding bias to enable an objective appraisal to take place.

Candidates will then be introduced to methods for assessing and scoring performance as well as learning techniques for handling the appraisal discussion and for dealing with poor performance issues. They will be able to improve their communication skills with modules covering questioning techniques, listening skills, giving constructive feedback and setting quality objectives.

Finally, candidates will be provided with six useful techniques to help make time for appraisals, plus receive guidance notes to assist them in conducting appraisals when back in the work place, before participating in six practical case study exercises designed to encourage thought, discussion and use of the workshop content.

Certification

All candidates that attend and complete all workshop sessions and achieve a minimum of 50% in the multiple choice paper will receive the Level 3 Professional Award in Performance Appraisal Techniques CPD certificate.

Delivery Methods Tutor facilitation and input

Group activity and discussion

Case studies and role play

Multiple choice exam paper

Course Timings/Refreshments

The workshop is delivered over two consecutive days, commencing promptly at 9.00am and finishing at 5.00pm. Each session will last for 50 minutes followed by a 10 minute break. Candidates should arrive at 8.45am for breakfast, lunch will be served at 12.30pm and tea, coffee and water are available throughout.

Course Numbers

Maximum of 15 candidates

Support Material

All candidates will receive a comprehensive workshop manual with quality session summary sheets covering each element of the course to enable full utilisation of the learning back in the workplace.

Course Facilitator

The Level 3 Professional Award in Performance Appraisal Techniques is facilitated by endorsed advanced facilitators who have undergone a minimum of 20 years of real-life business management and leadership experience - ensuring that all course delivery is of the highest quality.

Further information relating to the content of this Professional Award is detailed on the following page of this prospectus...

Course Content...

Introduction to Appraisals

The Structure of Performance & Development Reviews

Benefits of Performance & Development Reviews

Benefits to the Employee

Benefits to the Line Manager

Benefits to the Organisation

Styles for Performance & Development Reviews

Discussions or Interviews?

The Qualities of an Appraiser

Module 1: Introduction

Module 2: Planning for Appraisals Preparing for the Performance & Development Review

The Main Types of Bias and How to Avoid Them

Techniques for Assessing Performance

Considerations for the Performance & Development Review

Preparation Checklist for Performance & Development Reviews

Module 3: Appraisal Discussions/Communicating in Appraisals Characteristics of Effective Performance Review Discussions

Questioning Techniques to Assist Performance Discussions

Identifying the Causes of Poor Performance

Techniques for Discussing Poor Performance

Techniques for Giving Feedback

Listening Skills

How to improve Your Listening Skills

Setting SMART Objectives

Module 4: Conclusion How to Make Time for Performance Reviews

Guidance Notes for Conducting Performance Reviews

Case Studies 1 to 6

Module 5: Assessment for CPD Professional Award Structured workshop review with facilitator

Candidate personal revision time

Multiple choice paper assessment

James Turner | Managing Director | T: 0845 880 2255 | E: hp@pdsg.uk | W: pdsg.uk

If you would to like to get further information about the Professional Award detailed in this prospectus, please contact James Turner on 0845 880 2255 and we will be pleased to answer your questions.

Please note: We are constantly evaluating and reviewing all our programmes to ensure that Human Performance continues to offer the very best learning opportunities for clients and candidates. As a result of these reviews we may amend course content to better assist candidates to achieve the programme objectives and learning outcomes.

Consequently, all prospectuses will be updated periodically to reflect any changes to our modules and session plans, but Human Performance reserves the right to substitute any modules and sessions detailed above where it believes this will improve upon the objectives of the programme, whilst ensuring that it stays closely mapped to the relevant National Occupational Standards.